Digital parking signs direct shoppers to available spaces

Finding a parking space in the central city gets a whole lot next Tuesday (14 December) with the launch of live digital signs designed to direct people to the nearest available spots in Council-owned carparks.

The launch strengthens $1 parking rates which were launched in September. Parking now costs only $1 per hour for the first four hours at three of the largest and most central car parking facilities in the central city – Garden Place, Victoria on the River and Knox Street.

Parking has also been reduced to $1 for an hour of parking in all other Council controlled parking lots in the central city; including the Museum, Caro Street, Meteor Theatre and Founders Theatre carparks.

The new, live digital signs show drivers, in real-time, how many spaces are available in those Council-owned carparks closest to them. These carparks are also participating in the $1 parking promotion.

Since the $1 parking initiative began in September, data records show that parking rates have increased by 5000 cars per month across all participating parking lots and buildings. $1 parking remains a dramatic reduction in the cost of central city parking which previously could have cost drivers up to $9 dollars more for the same 4 hour time period.

Access Hamilton co-ordinator Philip King says, “While over 1200 parking spaces exist, the cost and availability of central city parking are often raised by residents and businesses.

“Together the digital signs and $1 parking rates will make a real difference to parking in the central city– taking the hassle out of finding a park and reducing the cost to an affordable $1 an hour for up to four hours in Council-owned carparks.